Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), India.
"A number of factors set the STAARS program apart from some others that I have been involved in. As a STAARS fellow, I was paired up with mentors that have an in depth knowledge of my research area. This was evident in the quality of my mentors' contributions to my research work. The study visit to Cornell was gave me the opportunity to present my early research ideas to a group of genuinely-interested researchers who were happy to provide constructive feedback that significantly strengthened the paper. The program was intense but worth it as I have come away not only with a high-quality research paper, but also with a wealth of knowledge in empirical methodology, data coding and general research best-practices. These are skills that will contribute to a successful research career long after the STAARS program is over” - Dr. Nkechi Owoo
STAARS and STAAARS+ Fellows are paired with faculty and research staff affiliated with Cornell University, with whom they jointly author a paper on a topic of mutual interest relating to structural transformation in sub-Saharan Africa. STAARS and STAAARS+ Fellows’ research uses high-quality panel datasets, such as the World Bank LSMS-ISA data. In addition to producing high-quality publishable research, the STAARS and STAAARS+ fellowships include writing, data management, and communication capacity building designed explicitly to develop and expand the professional reach of talented early-career African scholars. STAARS and STAAARS+ fellowships are sponsored by the African Development Bank and the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM). The STAAARS+ Program is part of the Michigan State University Innovation Lab for Food Security Research, Policy, Capacity and Influence.
For a description on the STAARS program and its history read Building research capacity in an under-represented group: The STAARS program experience.
Read “…An exceptional opportunity to promote up-and-coming African researchers” to learn what our previous fellows think about STAARS.
To learn more about the STAARS program read "For STAARS fellows and mentors, their Business is a Better World "
Watch Dr. Abebe Shimeles’ keynote talk to the 2022 STAARS Fellows.
A summary of our Cohort 2 fellows’ work and their final presentation session can be found here.
Decolonizing Development Economics: The STAARS Experience; Kibrom A. Abay, Khadijat B. Amolegbe, Christopher B. Barrett, Kelsey L. Schreiber, Joanna B. Upton
